AS A FAVOR to California Democratic Party chief Bill Press, I won't start this column on Proposition 198, the open primary initiative (voters could vote in whichever primary they choose for each office), the way many other media types have. I will not quip that any political ballot measure opposed by both the state Democratic and Republican parties must have something going for it -- even if I believe it.

Press complained yesterday that too "many friends of mine in the media" fall for that line. "I think that's substituting a smart-ass remark for a serious thought," Press opined. Readers are aware, of course, that this column is never above smart-ass remarks. But just for my pal Press, just because he asked for it, I'll take the high road. I'll try to eschew SARs and stick with the tawdry issues.

Press dubbed Proposition 198 "Tom Campbell's revenge." In 1992, Campbell, now a congressman representing San Jose, opposed TV commentator Bruce Herschensohn in the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate. Herschensohn won the battle -- he garnered 38 percent of the primary vote, Campbell 36 percent -- but lost the war to Democrat Barbara Boxer. At the time, many observers believed that Boxer, because she is so far to the left, would have lost in a race against the moderate, pro-choice Campbell.

Press called the measure Campbell's sneaky way of assuring that Campbell could win a statewide GOP primary. But there's nothing sneaky about what Campbell is trying to do, and Campbell can make these changes only if a majority of California voters agree with his goal.

What Press calls Campbell's revenge, however, I'd call The Revenge of the Moderates. These days it's no picnic being a pro-choice, fiscal-conservative Republican. Look at the GOP presidential primary, which is dominated by states with a closed system, and you can see how the GOP has been hijacked by a minority corner.

In the Iowa caucuses, GOP hopefuls fell all over themselves trying to appeal to the most extreme constituents. It wasn't enough to be against abortion, as the overwhelming majority of the GOP wannabes are, even though most Rep voters support some abortion rights. In their push to appeal to single-issue caucus voters, the herd has engaged in a more-rabid-than-thou battle over which candidate was the most extreme in its opposition to abortion. Like Dole's a wimp because he wouldn't ban abortions in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life is in danger.

Press gave four reasons to oppose Proposition 198: "One, it destroys the integrity of political parties. Two, it is an invitation to mischief. Three, it is the opposite of campaign reform. Four, it's a logistical nightmare."

Come now, it's a little late for destroying the integrity of the parties. It is precisely because party bosses often pick unattractive candidates that voters often are turned off in general elections.

On the last point, Press has a strong case, but not strong enough. Campbell and company should have written a measure that would allow voters to choose one party primary to vote in, rather than treating the ballot like a menu and letting folks vote Republican in the presidential primary, Democratic for the Senate race and Green for local elections. This makes for a more complicated ballot, and dilutes party influence more than necessary.

Still, too much paperwork is a small price to pay for giving California's 1.4 million decline-to-state voters -- who have been frozen out of the early selection process -- a stake in the primaries. More independent voters should spell more moderate and appealing candidates, and therefore less cynicism, less public disgust with politics and maybe even fewer smart-ass remarks.